China, India are co-operation partners, Xi tells Modi

Tianjin, Sept 1: Chinese President Xi Jinping met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. The two leaders greeted each other warmly and held talks for nearly an hour.

Xi said India and China should focus on friendship instead of rivalry. He urged both sides to look beyond border disputes and work together for the future.

“We must not let the border issue define the overall China-India relationship,” Xi said, according to Xinhua. He added that ties between the two countries could be “promising, stable, and far-reaching” if they treated each other as partners.

Xi also said it was important for China and India to be “good neighbours” and for the “Dragon and the Elephant to come together.”

Meanwhile, Modi said India wants stronger ties with China based on trust, respect, and sensitivity. He added that cooperation between the two nations will help 2.8 billion people and benefit the world.

The two leaders agreed to keep peace along the border and work together for mutual interests. Modi called the talks “fruitful” and noted that relations have improved since their last meeting in Kazan.

Officials from both sides discussed trade, investment, and regional security. They also stressed the need for better communication to avoid misunderstandings.

The meeting is seen as an important step in improving ties between Asia’s two largest countries. Leaders from other SCO nations also welcomed the effort to strengthen cooperation.